10 things to know about 2017 Big Ten championship game

The two most successful programs in the Big Ten over the past 20 years meet for just the second time in the Big Ten championship this Saturday. Yes, the Wisconsin Badgers and Ohio State Buckeyes tangle with a Big Ten championship and a potential berth in the College Football Playoff on the line.

Wisconsin’s scenario is easy, win and the No. 4 Badgers are in. The only question would be would they move up and go to the Rose Bowl or not?

Ohio State, well a win over the Badgers helps, but they would also need some help from another expected conference champion to lose and have a better resume on paper than some other teams in front of them.

Even though the scenarios are very different, these two coaches are likely to have their charges laser focused on the task at hand. But, how do u separate teams who got to this point in very different ways? There’s no better way than to dive in to the numbers and see what comes out.

Here are the stats, notes and everything else in between that you need to know ahead of the big matchup on Saturday night.

1: Ohio State, not Wisconsin leads the Big Ten in rushing offense

While all the attention seems to be on Wisconsin’s star freshman running back Jonathan Taylor, it is the Buckeyes who have been the more dominant team on the ground this season. Ohio State averages 250.3 yards per game on the ground. It helps when you have two running backs that combined for nearly 1,700 yards and a quarterback who put up another 600-plus yards as well.

Ohio State’s own freshman sensation, J.K. Dobbins was second in the Big Ten to Taylor with 1,190 yards and his 7.2 yards per carry average topped the league. So don’t think the Badgers are the only team that can run the ball heading in to Saturday night.

Now that’s not to say the Badgers are slouches on the ground game front either. UW was second in the league with an average of 243.2 yards per game as well. In fact, the two were the only teams in the Big Ten to average over 200 yards per game on the ground in the Big Ten.

2: That’s the number of times the Badgers have trailed in the second half this season

Wisconsin has trailed in the second half just twice (vs. Northwestern and vs. Michigan) for a total of 8:49. The Badgers have not trailed in the fourth quarter of any game. It’s all part of the narrative of the Badgers as a second half team.

The formula has been simple, try to jump out to a lead early or keep the game close early and then continue to pound away until opponents give up. What will be interesting to see is if the Badgers second half dominance can continue. Ohio State actually has given up more points in the second and third quarters (69 each) than in the first or fourth. Those are the two quarters were the Badgers ramp things up — going from 86 points this season in the 1st quarter to 106 in the 2nd, 108 in the 3rd and 118 in the final stanza.

Combine that with a Badgers defense that clamps down over time and you can see how teams falter against the Badgers. Will that scenario continue to play out in Indy?

3: This will be Ohio State’s 3rd Big Ten championship game appearance

OSU has only been eligible for six of the seven Big Ten title games played, and they’ve been able to make it to three of them so far. It’s been a mixed bag for Urban Meyer’s crew though. Michigan State took them down 34-24 in the first meeting, while the next year was the infamous 59-0 beating of the very same school they’ll see across the field from them on Saturday — Wisconsin.

Both sides have downplayed that 2014 game, and rightfully so given it was four years ago and no one of consequence in this game was of consequence on either side of the field in that 2014 game.

Still, this is Ohio State’s chance to get over the .500 mark in Big Ten title games.

4: OSU is fourth in the Big Ten in turnover margin

Turnovers can easily decide big games, and the Buckeyes found that out the hard way in a visit to Kinnick Stadium about a month ago. However, this has been a season of razor-thin margins in terms of turnovers across the Big Ten. Case in point, Ohio State is just +3 on the turnover margin this season and yet they rank 4th in the conference alongside Purdue in that category.

Ohio State has been alright at taking the ball away, forcing 18 turnovers, but they haven’t given up the ball much either, ranking third in the Big Ten with just 15 turnovers given up. With the Badgers defense so prone to pouncing on mistakes and the unknown situation at quarterback for the Buckeyes, look for turnovers to play a key role in this game.

5: That is Ohio State’s rank in sacks coming in to this game

Greg Schiano was supposed to be off for the Tennessee Volunteers head coaching gig by now, but we’ll save that story for another day. His defense has been turning up the pressure on opposing quarterbacks all season long, resulting in 34.0 sacks and a fifth place finish in the Big Ten. Nick Bosa earned Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year following the regular season, putting up a team-best 6.0 sacks and amassing 12.5 tackles for loss.

Wisconsin’s offensive line isn’t going to be easy to crack though, despite a relatively immobile quarterback. The Badgers finished first in the Big Ten for sacks allowed, with just 17.0 on the year. Getting to Hornibrook is going to be vital, but it won’t be easy.

6: That is the number of 10-win seasons in a row for the Buckeyes

All six of those 10-win seasons in a row have come under the tutelage of Urban Meyer not coincidentally. Meanwhile, the Badgers come in to this game riding a big 10-win season streak of their own, owning four of those seasons in a row. That mark is a school record for Wisconsin, while the Buckeyes’ six-straight is also a school record.

We’re getting these two programs at the best they have ever been, will it mean a good game on the field though?

7: Wisconsin is just seventh in the Big Ten in penalty yards this season

In a game where strength is going on strength, sometimes the weaknesses matter too (if you can find them). One area of weakness for the Badgers this season has been penalties. Wisconsin’s 5.5 penalties per game aren’t a terrible number, but when the Badgers are committing said turnovers, they are costly. UW is giving up over 50 yards per game in penalties. It simply can’t afford to do that against the Buckeyes.

Meanwhile, Ohio State is perhaps the worst offender of the bunch. Not only do the Buckeyes commit 7.4 penalties per game, they also rank last in the Big Ten with those penalties costing 72.1 yards per game.

This is clearly an area to watch on the part of both teams.

8: That’s the number of opponents the Badgers have held to under 100 yards rushing this season

Earlier we noted the matchup between two of the bet rushing offenses in the country. Well, something may have to give for the Buckeyes and Badgers, because Wisconsin features the Big Ten’s best run defense. Not only are the Badgers holding opponents to just 80.5 yards per game on the ground, they have held eight of the 12 opponents faced under the 100-yard mark, including in each of the last four games. That 80.5 yards per game average also tops the country.

If Ohio State struggles to run the ball against the stingiest run defense in the land, can the Buckeyes win? That may be one of the biggest questions in this contest.

9: Jonathan Taylor has gone for over 100 yards in 9 of 12 games this season

There’s a reason Taylor is the Big Ten’s leading running back — consistency. He’s been over 100 yards in 9 of 12 games played this season and has only missed the 100-yard mark twice as a starter after rushing fo 82 yards in his debut behind Bradrick Shaw and Chris James. The other two came in Big Ten play, with one only because of an ankle injury keeping him out after the half. He still put up 73 yards on 12 carries in the win over Illinois.

Taylor only needs 120 yards to break Adrian Peterson’s freshman rushing record, and that would be well below his season average of 150.5. If he breaks it, will it also lead to a Badgers win?

10: Wisconsin has won 10 of 12 games this season by 14 points or more

Plenty of the national narrative surrounding Wisconsin this season has been about the Badgers strength of schedule, or lack there of. Of course there’s some merit to it, as they faced just three teams ranked when or after then played them all season long — Iowa, Michigan and Northwestern. However, the hallmark of a really good team is taking on a supposedly bad schedule and dominating it.

That’s what the Badgers did this season, winning all but two games by two touchdowns or more. I’d call that pretty dominating football.

Then again…nothing has been good enough for most in the national media when it comes to the Wisconsin Badgers.

But, I digress. My point is, this team isn’t the 2017 version of the 2015 Iowa Hawkeyes. Wisconsin is blowing out teams it should beat and winning large against quality teams like Iowa, Northwestern and Michigan. That 2015 Iowa team snuck a perfect regular season by winning 7 of 10 games by 10 points or less…and 4 of those 7 games were by one score or less as well.

I only bring this point up to note that thinking this will be a razor-thin margin one way or the other seems unlikely considering what these two teams have put on the field most of the year. That’s especially the case should it be Wisconsin taking home the win.

Who wins, and how do we see the game playing out?

Tune in to the talking10 Podcast from this week and find out all that information and our exclusive All-Big Ten 1st and 2nd team reveal too.

5 Badgers to to know after Spring practice

Believe it or not, we’re almost out of the month of April and that means the end of the 2019 Wisconsin Badgers spring football practices.

Despite the lack of a true spring game or real media hype there was a lot to learn from the 15 just-completed practices over the course of the last month.

Some of what we learned came to names that flashed that we maybe didn’t totally see coming as spring ball began.

So, let’s look at the 5 names to watch the most following spring practice.

Leo Chenal, ILB

All the talk coming in to spring was about another early entrant, but by about halfway through the 15 practices, there was only one name that everyone was talking about — Leo Chenal.

The younger brother of John Chenal burst on to the scene in a major way at inside linebacker. So much so that it’s going to be really hard for the Badgers coaching staff to keep him off the field.

He was a force in the run game and showcased good hands with multiple interceptions over the course of spring ball.

When coaches single you out for praise in interviews, you’re doing something right…especially if that coach is as tight-lipped as Paul Chryst is.

Chase Wolf, QB

All the talk coming in to spring revolved around Jack Coan and Graham Mertz. Well, you can add a third name in to the mix as redshirt freshman Chase Wolf had himself an impressive spring.

The former 3-star recruit is used to being in the shadows, having backed up a former 5-star recruit for most of his high school career. Instead of backing down from the challenge, he rose to the occasion and earned himself the scholarship at Wisconsin.

He again rose to the challenge this spring and proved he has the arm and athleticism to do something different with this offense should the coaching staff want to go that route.

I’m not saying Wolf is going to win the starting job, but what I am saying is that this is far from a two-quarterback race according to those who saw spring practice.

Brady Schipper, RB

Everyone knows that Jonathan Taylor is UW’s RB1. But, who will back him up is perhaps the biggest question mark at the skill positions. While it’s likely that Nakia Watson and Bradrick Shaw will get the first cracks, one could argue the most eye-opening offensive performer this spring was Schipper.

The walk-on out of Stoughton appears to have something that the others don’t have at this point. His power is so different and his ability to see the hole is natural.

Don’t be surprised to see Schipper fighting for snaps in relief of Taylor this fall.

Alexander Smith, CB

Good luck really figuring out what the pecking order looks like at cornerback coming out of spring. That isn’t a bad thing though, and largely it is due to the high level of competition there.

One of the more consistent competitors was Alexander Smith, who played well when forced in to action as a freshman last year. Luckily the Badgers didn’t burn his redshirt, but his time on the field last season seemed to pay off this spring.

He was always around the ball and showed good instincts overall. Add in some decent recovery speed and Smith wound up as a player who gave himself more reps in fall. What he does with those will go a long way in deciding just how much he contributes at cornerback when the games matter.

Aron Cruickshank, WR

Wisconsin needs to get more speed and more separation out of its wide receivers. One person that can provide that in spades could be Cruickshank.

He spent last season largely running as a decoy or on gadget plays. This spring, Cruickshank showed he had more to his game and could be a major weapon in the pass attack this year as well.

Whatever he can add to a solid group like AJ Taylor, Danny Davis and Kendric Pryor will be a bonus. But, he could be a matchup nightmare for defenses. Spring ball showcased that in a big way.

Guessing the Badgers depth chart post-spring

Spring football came to a quick and uneventful end on Friday. Now that we’ve had some time to digest what the coaching staff has had to say and what reports have come out of spring camp, it’s a perfect time to address the depth chart.

Did anyone jump to a starting role that we didn’t expect or what about underclassmen showing they belong?

We’ll look at each position and give your our best guess on where things stand heading out of spring ball and in to the fall.

Quarterback

Jack Coan

Graham Mertz

Chase Wolf

Danny Vanden Boom

Spring Observations:

We honestly have no idea where this position really stands, largely because this was the first time in a long time in which there wasn’t access to just about every practice. So, did the Badgers show something different behind closed doors?

From what the media was able to see, Coan appeared to take the vast majority of the first-team snaps this spring. Whether that was a test to see where he stands or a by-product of inexperience behind him, we simply do not know.

The good news behind Coan is that both early entrant freshman Graham Mertz and redshirt freshman Chase Wolf competed well in large chunks of the open spring practices.

If either of them can up their game heading in to the fall, we could see a very interesting situations unfold heading in to the first game at USF.

Running Back

Jonathan Taylor

Nakia Watson

Bradrick Shaw

Garrett Groshek

Brady Schipper

Spring Observations:

This group didn’t make much noise in the spring and that is alright when you have one of the most prolific running backs in college football history in your backfield.

A lot was expected out of redshirt freshman Nakia Watson in terms of stepping up to be the backup. I’m not sold that the coaching staff was all too happy with any of the running backs and here’s why — Isaac Gruenedo and Brady Schipper were seeing a ton of reps.

To their credit, both showed some good things when given their opportunities, but both have a long way to go to be on the level of Taylor.

Watson appeared to be the most consistent option behind Taylor, but he still has some growth to do as an inexperienced redshirt freshman. Meanwhile, we really don’t know what’s up with Bradrick Shaw as he attempts to come back from some awful injury issues.

Fully expect to see Taylor, Watson, Shaw and Groshek (as the 3rd down back) in the mix this fall.

Wide Receiver

WR1:

Danny Davis

Kendric Pryor

Taj Mustapha

WR2:

AJ Taylor

Aron Cruickshank

Jack Dunn

Spring Observations:

Given the quarterback battle that is ongoing, the wide receiver group got a ton of reps this spring as well. The top of the depth chart was pretty much set in stone with Danny Davis, AJ Taylor and Kendric Pryor the top three options.

But, the biggest jump this spring came from Aron Cruickshank, who showed he could be more than a gimmick in the offense. He looked good in the slot and most importantly, showed much more crispness in his route running and that means he could be a very dangerous weapon in the deep passing game.

Overall, this group did well in spring and don’t be surprised to see younger names like AJ Abbott and Taj Mustapha make a run at serious playing time. In fact, Mustapha may have already put himself in the mix for snaps this fall.

Tight End

Jake Ferguson

Luke Benzschawel

Hayden Rucci

Spring Observations:

To say this position was less than spectacular this spring would be an understatement. Ferguson is great and will continue to be the top target at this position, but what is behind him should give plenty of opportunity to the pair of incoming freshmen to say the least.

Benzschawel continues to show promise, but can’t stay healthy enough to be a reliable option just yet. Gabe Lloyd got a lot of playing time this spring, but wasn’t great.

Thus, I believe we’ll see at least one of Hayden Rucci or Clay Cundiff making their mark felt. Right now, I’m leaning towards Rucci being the more college ready player heading in to the fall and most likely to be called upon if they have to.

Depth at this position is a massive concern for a position that is crucial to success for the offense.

Offensive Line

A lot of the starting pieces were missing this spring thanks to injury or recovery from offseason surgery and with all the transition happening up front that may actually have been a blessing in disguise.

The Badgers coaching staff got a good look at a lot of inexperienced but quality options on the line and it appears that some spots were locked up thanks to quality play.

One of the most consistent performers was senior David Moorman, who played both guard and tackle on the right side with the first team offense. Ultimately, I believe his best spot is inside, but he’s versatile enough to kick outside too.

What could be the most interesting battle this fall will be between incoming 5-star offensive lineman Logan Brown and Logan Bruss, who started six games this past season.

If there was one observation to take away from the spring it was that despite all the turnover, there is a lot of talent waiting their turn once again on this offensive line. That wasn’t the case just a few short years ago.

Defensive Line

First Team:

DE: Garrett RandNG: Bryson WilliamsDE: Isaiahh Loudermilk

Second Team:

DE: Isaiah MullensNG: Gunnar RobergeDE: Matt Henningson

Spring Observations:

The good news coming out of spring is that starters Garrett Rand and Isaiahh Loudermilk appear healthier and ready to contribute in 2019 in a major way. Rand still has some work to do physically, but was nearly 100 percent come the end of spring ball.

Add in the fact that Mullens Roberge and Henningson did some good work in major snaps this spring and you have a much stronger defensive front than UW had at any point last fall.

The interesting part will be when the freshmen enter the mix in the fall. Could any of them get in the mix?

Outside Linebacker

First Team:

ROLB: Zack BaunLOLB: Christian Bell

Second Team:

ROLB: Noah BurksLOLB: Izayah Green-May

Spring Observations:

We didn’t get to see Christian Bell much in spring and he was eventually shut down. But, you can fully expect him in the mix come fall. In fact, I’m not sure anyone outside of Noah Burks will challenge him for the starting spot opposite of Baun.

Speaking of Zack Baun…this was a monster spring for him, as he showed major improvement and big time leadership on and off the field. He could be the most impressive player to come out of spring ball amongst the entrenched starters.

But, the player I’m most intrigued to see get some reps in the fall is Izayah Green-May. He’s a matchup nightmare with his length and athleticism just by stepping on the field. But, this spring, the youngster appeared to have the lightbulb go off and that could be mean some nice playing time this fall.

Inside Linebacker

First Team:

ILB: Chris OrrILB: Jack Sanborn

Second Team:

ILB: Mike MaskalunasILB: Leo Chenal

Spring Observations:

Replacing T.J. Edwards and Ryan Connelly — the latter of which was picked in the just-completed NFL draft — was never going to be all that easy. But, a renewed effort from senior Chris Orr and a whole lot of talent behind him suggested the Badgers will be just fine at inside linebacker.

Orr was flying around a lot in spring ball, having cut some serious weight. But, the real name that stuck out from the crowd was actually an unheralded early entrant named Leo Chenal.

He impressed so much this spring that he may have already locked in a spot in the two deep before the Badgers even broke camp. He showed vision, athleticism and a nose for the football that will make him valuable in sub packages at the very least come fall.

I love what I’ve heard about this group all spring long.

Cornerback

Caesar Williams

Deon Harrell

Faion Hicks

Rachad Wildgoose

Madison Cone

Spring Observations:

Coming in to spring ball, this group was the biggest wildcard on the team — and that was because so many players got experience last season it was nearly impossible to figure out how they stacked up.

That may still be the case, but someone has to start on paper and in the game. The good news is that there were six solid performers this spring and UW would be good to have any one of them start. The bad news is that there wasn’t really anyone outside of Williams that separated from the crowd.

Much more will have to done in the fall to figure this group out, but I’ll take competitive play over a set-in-stone depth chart at this point of a season.

Safety

FS1: Eric BurrellFS2: Reggie Pearson Jr.

SS1: Scott NelsonSS2: Colin Wilder

Spring Observations:

Unlike the cornerback position, the Badgers coaching staff likely knows the pecking order at both safety spots following spring ball. Eric Burrell and Scott Nelson looked like a great starting tandem, while both Wilder and Pearson provided quality competition.

This is as close to a lock for the depth chart as you’ll see anywhere on this roster if you ask me.

Kicker

Collin Larsh

Spring Observations:

There is little doubt about who will take over the field goal kicking duties now that Rafael Gaglianone is graduated. Larsh looks like a great get for the program as a walk-on and could be a reliable asset to the team, which Gaglianone just wasn’t following multiple back issues and surgeries as his career went on.

Punter

Anthony Lotti

Spring Observations:

It appears Lotti has settled in after a rough first year as the main punting option for this team. His steady improvement and consistency will be important in 2019 and spring proved that he could be much more consistent according to the coaching staff. You have to like that kind of reporting.

What is being said about Badgers 2019 NFL draft picks

The three-day marathon of picks and commercial break after commercial break is over. For four now-former Wisconsin Badgers football players, their NFL dreams came true.

Leading the way was offensive lineman Michael Deiter, who went to the Miami Dolphins with the No. 78 overall pick and the No. 15 pick in the 3rd round.

He was the lone Badgers representative from Wisconsin in the first two days. In fact, we had to wait until the fifth round to hear the next name off the board.

Linebacker Ryan Connelly was next, with the New York Giants picking him in the No. 5 spot in the fifth round (No. 143 overall). He was followed up by outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel in the same round, going No. 151 overall to the Miami Dolphins. He’ll join Deiter in Miami, hopefully helping to make the rookie transition a bit easier for the pair.

The final of three Badgers to go in the 5th round was offensive lineman David Edwards, who went No. 169 overall to the Los Angeles Rams. He’ll get to join former Badgers offensive lineman Rob Havenstein.

But, getting picked is just one step in the journey to an NFL roster spot come the fall. Before we get there, let’s take a look at what was said about the four Badgers as they were picked this weekend.

Michael Deiter

NFL.com: He’s a mauler. He’s played a lot of football at an offensive line factory in Wisconsin. — Daniel Jeremiah

ESPN: When you have obvious needs at three different O-line positions, it can’t hurt to draft an O-lineman whose position could be tabbed: All. The dude started an incredible 54 games in college. The Dolphins allowed a Pass Block Win Rate (see: pressure allowed in under 2.5 seconds) that had them 24th in the NFL last season. Deiter is part of more work to be done up front. — Chris Sprow

Ryan Connelly

NFL.com: Connelly is an ideal depth fit for defensive coordinator James Bettcher’s scheme. He can play inside in either 34 or 43 packages. — Mark Dulgerian

Bleacher Report: Connelly is a stout, tough middle linebacker who played through a torn abdominal muscle last season. He’s solid between the tackles and when handling the coverage basics, but Sean Payton would start drooling uncontrollably if he saw Connelly matched up in man coverage on Alvin Kamara. Connelly projects as a two-down linebacker who leaves the field on passing downs, meaning he faces an uphill battle in today’s NFL. But he’s a former walk-on, so he knows all about uphill battles. Connelly is your typical Giants linebacker prospect: a high-effort guy who is not all that great. Grade: C

Andrew Van Ginkel

NFL.com: New head coach Brian Flores is taking over a Dolphins team that generated pressure at the 4th-lowest rate in the league last season according to Next Gen Stats. Van Ginkel has the athleticism and motor to help on that front. — Mark Dulgerian

Bleacher Report: Van Ginkel recorded 12 sacks for the Badgers over the last two seasons and intercepted two passes in 2017. He’s versatile, athletic and hustles, with a tiny bit of pass-rush razzle-dazzle. He feels like a reach, but the Dolphins need depth everywhere and may see him as a multiposition sub at linebacker. Grade: C

David Edwards

NFL.com: Offensive line depth was a soft spot on an other-wise loaded offense last season. Edwards is still growing into the position both technically and physically, so he likely won’t compete for significant reps until next year. — Mark Dulgerian

Bleacher Report: Edwards was a high school quarterback, and his quick-footed athleticism is evident on tape. His technique was all over the place last year, but he was playing through a shoulder injury that may have limited him or forced him to overcompensate in his sets, balance and hand usage. Edwards is a high-upside project who could conceivably be coached into a starting NFL left tackle. He’ll compete with third-round pick Bobby Evans for the right to be Andrew Whitworth’s heir apparent. Grade: B

Badgers in the 2019 NFL Mock Drafts

Believe it or not, we’re just three weeks away from the start of the 2019 NFL Draft. While, it’s likely your focus is on your favorite NFL team, its needs and who will go where, for fans of college football it’s also a time to sneak a look at where their favorite players will be going.

So, as we near the draft, I thought it a perfect time to take a look at where every former Badgers player stands. We’ll look at some of the most comprehensive 7-round mock drafts.